Detergent composition

ABSTRACT

A detergent composition which comprises (A) an N-acyl amino acid salt of an amino acid selected from glycine, alanine and β-alanine where the acyl group is a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid residue having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and (B) a higher fatty acid salt at a Component (A)/Component (B) weight ratio of 99.5/0.5 to 90/10, and another detergent composition derived from the above composition, which comprises further a higher alcohol and/or polyhydric alcohol. According to the present invention, properties of N-acyl amino acid salts as detergents can be improved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a detergent composition which comprises an N-acyl glycine salt, an N-acyl alanine salt and/or an N-acyl β-alanine salt, together with a higher fatty acid salt, and to another detergent composition whose use feeling is improved by incorporating further a higher alcohol and/or a polyhydric alcohol.

BACKGROUND ART

N-Acyl amino acid salts are known as surface active agents generally having high safety, and, particularly, N-acyl glutamic acid salts, N-acyl sarcosine salts, N-acyl β-alanine salts, N-acyl methyl taurine salts and the like are broadly used in detergents. Other N-acyl amino acid salts have also been studied since considerably old times, and N-acyl amino acids were actually synthesized from and examined on natural amino acids and synthetically obtainable amino acids. Especially, there are a number of reports on the results of studies on N-acyl derivatives of natural amino acids.

Recently, it was reported that scum formed by the reaction of an N-acyl glycine salt, an N-acyl β-alanine salt or the like with calcium contained in city water was found to have an excellent touch (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. Hei 4-221607). However, the N-acyl amino acid salts disclosed in this report and other natural type N-acyl amino acid salts were not sufficient in their bubble-related performances in terms of bubble retention, creaminess, lathering power and sliminess.

The object of the present invention is to provide an excellent detergent composition comprising an N-acyl amino acid salt, which is highly safe and shows quick, effective and creamy lathering and reduced slimy touch to the skin.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

With the aim of achieving the aforementioned object, the inventors of the present invention have conducted intensive studies and found as the result that an excellent detergent composition having the aforementioned properties can be provided by jointly using a salt of a specified N-acyl amino acid and a salt of a specified higher fatty acid, or by blending further them with a specified higher alcohol and/or polyhydric alcohol, and finally accomplished the present invention on the basis of such findings.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a detergent composition which comprises (A) an N-acyl amino acid salt of an amino acid selected from glycine, alanine and β-alanine where the acyl group is a fatty acid residue having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and (B) a higher fatty acid salt having 8 to 20 carbon atoms at a Component (A)/Component (B) weight ratio of 99.5/0.5 to 90/10, and to another detergent composition derived from the above composition, which comprises further a higher alcohol and/or polyhydric alcohol.

The present invention will be described in detail as follows.

With regard to N-acyl amino acid salts as Component (A) of the detergent composition of the present invention, the N-acyl amino acid moiety is composed of an amino acid selected from glycine, alanine and β-alanine and an acyl group which is a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid residue having 8 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples of such moiety include lauroyl glycine, cocoyl glycine, myristoyl glycine, palmitoyl glycine, stearoyl glycine, oleoyl glycine, lauroyl β-alanine, cocoyl β-alanine, myristoyl β-alanine, palmitoyl β-alanine, stearoyl β-alanine, oleoyl β-alanine, lauroyl alanine, cocoyl alanine, myristoyl alanine, palmitoyl alanine, stearoyl alanine and the like. These N-acyl amino acids may be of either optically active form or racemic form. On the other hand, examples of the base moiety include alkali metals such as sodium, potassium and the like, organic amines such as triethanolamine, diethanolamine, monoethanolamine and the like alkanol amines and basic amino acids such as lysine, ornithine, arginine and the like. These base moieties may be used as a combination of two or more, because such a combination may further improve lathering and bubble retention.

With regard to higher fatty acid salts as Component (B), examples of the higher fatty acid moiety include straight- or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated ones each having 8 to 20 carbon atoms, particularly lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, coconut oil fatty acids, hardened tallow fatty acids and oleic acid, while the base moiety may be selected from the aforementioned base moieties of the Component (A) N-acyl amino acid salts.

As a matter of course, the aforementioned N-acyl amino acid salts may be used alone or as a mixture of two or more. The aforementioned higher fatty acid salts can also be used in the same manner.

With regard to the ratio (by weight) of Components (A) and (B) to be comprised in the detergent composition of the present invention, bubble quality is rough, bubble retention is poor and bubble volume is insufficient when Component (A)/Component (B)=100/0. The bubble volume-increasing effect of Component (B) becomes significant and the bubble retention, creaminess of bubble quality, non-sliminess and bubble-breaking capacity become appropriate when the ratio is adjusted to the Component (A)/Component (B)=99.5/0.5, the bubble retention becomes relatively good when the Component (A)/Component (B)=98/2, and almost constant effects are obtained when the Component (A)/Component (B)=97/3. The ratio if exceeding the Component (A)/Component (B)=90/10 would cause rapid increase in the generation of unusual smells and jarring touch, thus spoiling feeling of the detergent composition when used.

Jarring touch does not occur and refreshed feeling is improved when a specified higher alcohol is jointly used in addition to the active ingredients composed of the specified N-acyl amino acid salt and the specified higher fatty acid salt.

Such higher alcohols can be straight- or branched-chain, saturated or unsaturated alcohols having 8 to 24 carbon atoms. Examples of such higher alcohols include, especially, lauryl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetanol, cetostearyl alcohol and the like. As a matter of course, these higher alcohols can be used alone or jointly as a mixture of two or more, and the joint use will exert the effect in smaller amounts.

With regard to the amount of the higher alcohol (total amount when used as a mixture), 0.5 to 20% by weight based on the total amount of Components (A) and (B) may be effective, and amounts outside this range will not bear refreshed feeling.

In addition, hardening and dry-and-rough feeling of the skin and hair and stiffness of the skin can be prevented when a polyhydric alcohol is jointly used in addition to the active principle composed of the specified N-acyl amino acid salt and the specified higher fatty acid salt.

Such polyhydric alcohol to be used herein can be those alcohols which have 2 or more hydroxyl groups in one molecule. Examples include glycerol, 1,3-butylene glycol, octanediol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, isoprene glycol, maltitol, sorbitol, pentaerythritol and the like. Of these, glycerol, 1,3-butylene glycol and propylene glycol are preferred from the view point of the use feeling and bubble volume.

Amounts of the polyhydric alcohol to be blended may be in the range of from 3 to 30% by weight, preferably from 5 to 20% by weight, of the total composition. The amount if smaller than 3% would bear no effect of its blending, and if larger than 30% would result in poor bubble quality and inferior use feeling.

With regard to the pH value of the detergent composition of the present invention, a pH value of from 6 to 10 to be provided at the time of the use of the composition is preferable from the safety point of view, and a pH value of from 6.5 to 9 is more desirable in view of the use feeling and lathering property. In consequence, the detergent composition of the present invention may be used as such if the pH value upon dissolution in water is within the above range, though it varies depending on the type of the base moiety of the N-acyl amino acid salt, but, when the value is outside the above range, a pH adjusting agent such as citric acid, carbonate or the like should have preferably been blended in advance so that the pH value is set within the range when it is used.

The detergent composition of the present invention may be made into appropriate preparation forms as detergents with no particular limitation, such as liquids, pastes, solids, powders and the like.

Also, as a matter of course, the detergent composition of the present invention can comprises such additives as commonly used in cosmetics and detergents, such as drugs, bactericides, perfumes, pigments and the like, corresponding to each application purpose, and within such a range that they do not spoil the characteristics of the present invention.

The detergent composition of the present invention shows a significant synergistic effect in terms of the bubble performance when used jointly with other anionic, nonionic and amphoteric surface active agents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a graph showing the results of Test Example 1.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following examples are provided to further illustrate the present invention.

Test Example 1

N-Lauroyl glycine was synthesized in accordance with the well known Schotten-Baumann reaction, and the unreacted fatty acid and other impurities were removed from the reaction product by recrystallization to obtain highly purified N-lauroyl glycine (purity, 99.95% or more), which was subsequently neutralized with potassium hydroxide to obtain the potassium salt of N-lauroyl glycine.

Using the thus obtained potassium salt of N-lauryl glycine (Component (A)) and potassium myristate (Component (B)) in varied amounts, several aqueous solutions (pH 8.2), each containing the components in a total concentration (surfactant concentration) of 0.5% by weight, were prepared. A 50 g portion of each aqueous solution was taken and stirred in a domestic mixer "Milcer" (manufactured by Iwatani Sangyo) to examine retention of bubbles. The retention is defined based on the formula, (bubble volume (ml) 10 minutes after stirring)/(bubble volume (ml), just after stirring)×100.

Another test was carried out on the retention of bubbles completely in the same manner except that potassium laurate was used instead of potassium myristate.

The results are shown in FIG. 1. As is evident from the figure, N-acyl amino acid salt alone cannot show sufficient retention of bubbles, while the bubble retention is improved when a very small amount of a higher fatty acid salt is added to the N-acyl amino acid salt (reaching almost the maximum level by the addition of about 2% of the higher fatty acid salt).

In order to evaluate creaminess, bubbles collected just after lathering at Points P and Q in FIG. 1 were placed on a slide glass, covered with cover glasses and then observed under a fiber scope microscope "Scopeman" (manufactured by Moritex), simultaneously taking photographs. As the result, it was found that the bubbles collected at Point P where a small amount of the fatty acid salt had been added were excellent in creaminess, while the bubbles collected at Point Q where the fatty acid salt had not been added were confirmed to be unstable, because they united during the microscopic observation.

Inventive Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7

Various types of N-acyl amino acid salts were prepared in the same manner as described in Test Example 1.

Using the thus prepared N-acyl amino acid salts and higher fatty acid salts and higher alcohols in such varied amounts as shown in Table 3, a number of aqueous solutions, each containing these components in a total concentration (surfactant concentration) of 0.5% by weight, were prepared. The pH value of each solution was found to be 7 to 8. Each of the thus prepared solutions was stirred using the domestic mixer used in Test Example 1 to examine the test items shown in Table 1.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Test item Description                                                          ______________________________________                                         Bubble volume                                                                            bubble volume (ml), 5 seconds after stirring                         Lathering rate                                                                           ⊚ : very quick, ◯ : quick, Δ:                 usual, x: not                                                                  sufficient                                                           Creaminess of                                                                            ⊚ : very creamy, ◯ : creamy,                        Δ: usual, x: not                                               bubbles   sufficient                                                           Retention of                                                                             retention (%) = (bubble volume (ml), 10                              bubbles   minutes after stirring)/bubble volume (ml),                                    5 seconds after stirring) × 100                                ______________________________________                                    

The compositions of the present invention were evaluated as head hair and body detergents by organoleptic tests by 20 expert panelists composed of 10 females and 10 males, concerning the touch of bubbles, jarring feeling, refreshed feeling and sliminess after washing, and the smells at the time of washing as the sense of touch and feeling. The organoleptic hand-washing and hair-washing tests were carried out using test solutions prepared by diluting each of the compositions having varied blending ratios shown in Table 3 with distilled water to a surfactant concentration of 30% or 15%.

The criteria for evaluation of each test item is shown in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Test item  Description                                                         ______________________________________                                         Touch of bubbles                                                                          ⊚ : very good, ◯ : good, Δ:                   usual, and x:                                                                  bad.                                                                Jarring feeling                                                                           ⊚ : very smooth, ◯ : smooth,                        Δ: jarring, and                                               (hands)    x: extremely jarring.                                               Jarring feeling                                                                           ⊚ : very smooth, ◯ : smooth,                        Δ: jarring, and                                               (hair)     x: extremely jarring.                                               Refreshed  ⊚ : very refreshed, ◯ : refreshed,                  Δ: usual,                                                     feeling    and x: slimy.                                                       Sliminess  ◯ : not slimy, and x: slimy.                            Smells     ⊚ : not feel at all, ◯ : hardly                     feel, Δ:                                                                 usual, and x: unpleasant smells.                                    ______________________________________                                    

The results are shown in Table 3.

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________                       Inventive Examples                                                             1    2  3    4  5                                            __________________________________________________________________________     Acyl                                                                               Lauroyl glycine TEA                                                                           95                                                          amino                                                                              Lauroyl glycine sodium                                                                             92                                                     acid                                                                               Myristoyl glycine potassium                                                                           90                                                  salt                                                                               Lauroyl alanine TEA         90                                                 Lauroyl β-alanine potassium                                                                              90                                          Higher                                                                             Sodium laurate              10                                             fatty                                                                              Potassium laurate   8                                                      acid                                                                               Coconut oil fatty acid TEA                                                                    5       10                                                  salt                                                                               Potassium myristate            10                                          Higher                                                                             Cetanol                                                                    alcohol                                                                            Lauryl alcohol                                                             Results                                                                            Bubble volume (ml)                                                                           300  310                                                                               320  315                                                                               300                                              Lathering rate                                                                               ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Creaminess of bubbles                                                                        ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Retention of bubbles                                                                          98   95                                                                                99   97                                                                               100                                              Touch of bubbles                                                                             ◯                                                                       ◯                                                                     ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Sliminess     ◯                                                                       ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                       ◯                                                                     ◯                                    Jarring feeling (hands)                                                                      ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Jarring feeling (hair)                                                                       ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Refreshed feeling                                                                            ◯                                                                       ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                       ◯                                                                     ◯                                    Smells        ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                             __________________________________________________________________________                       Inventive Examples                                                             6    7  8    9  10                                           __________________________________________________________________________     Acyl                                                                               Lauroyl glycine TEA                                                                           90                                                          amino                                                                              Lauroyl glycine sodium                                                                             92                                                     acid                                                                               Myristoyl glycine potassium                                                                           90                                                  salt                                                                               Lauroyl alanine TEA         90                                                 Lauroyl β-alanine potassium                                                                              90                                          Higher                                                                             Sodium laurate              7                                              fatty                                                                              Potassium laurate   5                                                      acid                                                                               Coconut oil fatty acid TEA                                                                    5       7                                                   salt                                                                               Potassium myristate            2                                           Higher                                                                             Cetanol        5    3       3                                              alcohol                                                                            Lauryl alcohol         3       8                                           Results                                                                            Bubble volume (ml)                                                                           300  270                                                                               270  300                                                                               300                                              Lathering rate                                                                               ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Creaminess of bubbles                                                                        ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Retention of bubbles                                                                         100  100                                                                               100   99                                                                                95                                              Touch of bubbles                                                                             ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Sliminess     ◯                                                                       ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                       ◯                                                                     ◯                                    Jarring feeling (hands)                                                                      ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Jarring feeling (hair)                                                                       ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Refreshed feeling                                                                            ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Smells        ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                    ⊚                                                                  ⊚                             __________________________________________________________________________                       Comparative Examples                                                           1  2  3  4  5  6  7                                          __________________________________________________________________________     Acyl                                                                               Lauroyl glycine TEA                                                                          100                                                          amino                                                                              Lauroyl glycine sodium                                                                          100                                                       acid                                                                               Myristoyl glycine potassium                                                                        100       86                                           salt                                                                               Lauroyl alanine TEA    100                                                     Lauroyl β-alanine potassium                                                                         100                                              Higher                                                                             Sodium laurate                  100                                        fatty                                                                              Potassium laurate             14                                           acid                                                                               Coconut oil fatty acid TEA                                                 salt                                                                               Potassium myristate                                                        Higher                                                                             Cetanol                                                                    alcohol                                                                            Lauryl alcohol                                                             Results                                                                            Bubble volume (ml)                                                                           270                                                                               270                                                                               270                                                                               240                                                                               270                                                                               270                                                                               270                                            Lathering rate                                                                               x  x  x  x  x  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                               Creaminess of bubbles                                                                        x  x  Δ                                                                           x  x  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                               Retention of bubbles (%)                                                                      60                                                                                68                                                                                74                                                                                75                                                                                65                                                                                95                                                                                60                                            Touch of bubbles                                                                             Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           ⊚                                                                  ⊚                               Sliminess     x  x  x  x  x  ◯                                                                     ◯                                  Jarring feeling (hands)                                                                      ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  Δ                                                                           x                                              Jarring feeling (hair)                                                                       ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  Δ                                                                           x                                              Refreshed feeling                                                                            Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           ◯                                                                     ⊚                               Smells        ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     x  x                                          __________________________________________________________________________      *TEA = triethanolamine                                                   

Inventive Examples 11 to 21 and Comparative Examples 8 to 18

In order to examine the effects of the joint use of the detergent composition of the present invention with other surface active agents, physical property measurement and organoleptic tests were carried out in the same manner as described in the preceding inventive examples. In this case, each aqueous solution was prepared by weighing the respective surface active agents in the amount (g) shown in Table 4 and adding purified water to the weighed agents in such an amount that the total weight was adjusted to 100 g. The pH value of each solution was found to be 7 to 8.

The results are shown in Table 4.

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________                         Inventive Examples                                                             11 12 13 14 15 16                                          __________________________________________________________________________     Acyl Cocoyl glycine TEA                                                                            5  10 10       20                                          amino                                                                               Cocoyl glycine potassium                                                                               20 20                                             acid Cocoyl glycine sodium                                                     salt Lauroyl glycine sodium                                                         Cocoyl alanine TEA                                                             Cocoyl β-alanine TEA                                                 Higher                                                                              Coconut oil fatty acid                                                                           0.5                                                                               0.5                                                  fatty                                                                               potassium                                                                 acid Soap base                                                                 salt Coconut oil fatty acid TEA                                                                    0.5      0.5                                                                               1  2.5                                              Potassium myristate                                                       Higher                                                                              Cetanol                 0.5   3                                           alcohol                                                                             Lauryl alcohol             0.5                                            Anionic                                                                             Lauroyl methyltaurine                                                                         5                                                          surface                                                                             sodium                                                                    active                                                                              Monolauryl phosphate TEA                                                                               2     5                                           agent                                                                               Sodium cocoyl isethionate                                                 Ampho-                                                                              Lauryl dimethylaminoacetic                                                                    8           10                                             teric                                                                               acid betaine                                                              surface                                                                             2-Lauryl-N-carboxymethyl-N-                                                                      3                                                       active                                                                              hydroxyethylimidazolinium                                                 agent                                                                               betaine                                                                        Coconut oil fatty acid                                                                              3                                                         amide propyldimethylamino                                                      acetic acid betaine                                                            Lauryl dimethylamino-2- 5                                                      hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine                                                Nonionic                                                                            Coconut oil fatty acid                                                                        2  2  2        3                                           surface                                                                             diethanolamide                                                            active                                                                              Lauryl polyglycoside    1                                                 agent                                                                          Results                                                                             Bubble volume (ml)                                                                            295                                                                               290                                                                               290                                                                               298                                                                               280                                                                               310                                              Lathering rate ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ◯                                                                     ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Creaminess of bubbles                                                                         ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Retention of bubbles (%)                                                                      88 99 99 99 97 99                                               Touch of bubbles                                                                              ◯                                                                     ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Jarring feeling (hands)                                                                       ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Jarring feeling (hair)                                                                        ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Sliminess      ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                                    Refreshed feeling                                                                             ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Smells         ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ⊚                                                                  ◯                                                                     ◯                               __________________________________________________________________________                         Inventive Examples                                                             17  18 19  20 21                                           __________________________________________________________________________     Acyl Cocoyl glycine TEA                                                        amino                                                                               Cocoyl glycine potassium                                                  acid Cocoyl glycine sodium                                                     salt Lauroyl glycine sodium                                                                        20  20                                                          Cocoyl alanine TEA    25                                                       Cocoyl β-alanine TEA 25 20                                           Higher                                                                              Coconut oil fatty acid                                                    fatty                                                                               potassium                                                                 acid Soap base      1                                                          salt Coconut oil fatty acid TEA                                                                               2.5                                                  Potassium myristate                                                                               1  2.5    2                                            Higher                                                                              Cetanol                                                                   alcohol                                                                             Lauryl alcohol            3                                               Anionic                                                                             Lauroyl methyltaurine                                                     surface                                                                             sodium                                                                    active                                                                              Monolauryl phosphate TEA                                                  agent                                                                               Sodium cocoyl isethionate                                                                     5                                                          Ampho-                                                                              Lauryl dimethylaminoacetic                                                teric                                                                               acid betaine                                                              surface                                                                             2-Lauryl-N-carboxymethyl-N-  10                                           active                                                                              hydroxyethylimidazolinium                                                 agent                                                                               betaine                                                                        Coconut oil fatty acid                                                         amide propyldimethylamino                                                      acetic acid betaine                                                            Lauryl dimethylamino-2-                                                        hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine                                                Nonionic                                                                            Coconut oil fatty acid                                                                               5      5                                            surface                                                                             diethanolamide                                                            active                                                                              Lauryl polyglycoside                                                                              10     2.5                                             agent                                                                          Results                                                                             Bubble volume (ml)                                                                            300 270                                                                               270 300                                                                               290                                               Lathering rate ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                  Creaminess of bubbles                                                                         ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                  Retention of bubbles (%)                                                                      100 100                                                                               100 99 95                                                Touch of bubbles                                                                              ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                  Jarring feeling (hands)                                                                       ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                  Jarring feeling (hair)                                                                        ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                  Sliminess      ◯                                                                      ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                      ◯                                                                     ◯                                     Refreshed feeling                                                                             ◯                                                                      ◯                                                                     ⊚                                                                   ◯                                                                     ◯                                     Smells         ◯                                                                      ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                      ◯                                                                     ◯                                __________________________________________________________________________                         Comparative Examples                                                           8  9  10 11 12 13                                          __________________________________________________________________________     Acyl Cocoyl glycine TEA                                                                            5                                                          amino                                                                               Cocoyl glycine potassium                                                  acid Cocoyl glycine sodium                                                     salt Lauroyl glycine sodium                                                                              20 20 20                                                  Cocoyl alanine TEA                                                                               7           25                                               Cocoyl β-alanine TEA                                                 Higher                                                                              Coconut oil fatty acid                                                    fatty                                                                               potassium                                                                 acid Soap base                                                                 salt Coconut oil fatty acid TEA                                                     Potassium myristate                                                       Higher                                                                              Cetanol           0.5                                                     alcohol                                                                             Lauryl alcohol                                                            Anionic                                                                             Lauroyl methyltaurine                                                                         5                                                          surface                                                                             sodium                                                                    active                                                                              Monolauryl phosphate TEA                                                                         2                                                       agent                                                                               Sodium cocoyl isethionate                                                                              5                                                 Ampho-                                                                              Lauryl dimethylaminoacetic                                                                    8                                                          teric                                                                               acid betaine                                                              surface                                                                             2-Lauryl-N-carboxymethyl-N-                                               active                                                                              hydroxyethylimidazolinium                                                 agent                                                                               betaine                                                                        Coconut oil fatty acid                                                         amide propyldimethylamino                                                      acetic acid betaine                                                            Lauryl dimethylamino-2-                                                                          5                                                            hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine                                                Nonionic                                                                            Coconut oil fatty acid                                                                        2              5                                           surface                                                                             diethanolamide                                                            active                                                                              Lauryl polyglycoside                                                                             1  10    10                                             agent                                                                          Results                                                                             Bubble volume (ml)                                                                            270                                                                               240                                                                               230                                                                               240                                                                               250                                                                               235                                              Lathering rate ⊚                                                                  Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                          Creaminess of bubbles                                                                         x  x  x  x  x  x                                                Retention of bubbles (%)                                                                      60 64 63 67 68 64                                               Touch of bubbles                                                                              Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           Δ                                          Jarring feeling (hands)                                                                       ◯                                                                     x  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                 Jarring feeling (hair)                                                                        ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                                                  x  Δ                                                                           Δ                                                                           ◯                                    Sliminess      x  x  x  x  x  x                                                Refreshed feeling                                                                             x  x  x  x  x  x                                                Smells         ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                                                                     ◯                               __________________________________________________________________________                         Comparative Examples                                                           14  15 16  17 181                                          __________________________________________________________________________     Acyl Cocoyl glycine TEA     85                                                 amino                                                                               Cocoyl glycine potassium   80                                             acid Cocoyl glycine sodium         85                                          salt Lauroyl glycine sodium                                                         Cocoyl alanine TEA                                                             Cocoyl β-alanine TEA                                                                      25  20                                                    Higher                                                                              Coconut oil fatty acid     20                                             fatty                                                                               potassium                                                                 acid Soap base                                                                 salt Coconut oil fatty acid TEA                                                                            15                                                      Potassium myristate           13                                          Higher                                                                              Cetanol                                                                   alcohol                                                                             Lauryl alcohol                                                            Anionic                                                                             Lauroyl methyltaurine                                                     surface                                                                             sodium                                                                    active                                                                              Monolauryl phosphate TEA                                                  agent                                                                               Sodium cocoyl isethionate                                                 Ampho-                                                                              Lauryl dimethylaminoacetic                                                teric                                                                               acid betaine                                                              surface                                                                             2-Lauryl-N-carboxymethyl-N-                                                                        10                                                    active                                                                              hydroxyethylimidazolinium                                                 agent                                                                               betaine                                                                        Coconut oil fatty acid                                                         amide propyldimethylamino                                                      acetic acid betaine                                                            Lauryl dimethylamino-2-                                                        hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine                                                Nonionic                                                                            Coconut oil fatty acid                                                                             5                                                     surface                                                                             diethanolamide                                                            active                                                                              Lauryl polyglycoside                                                                           5      5                                                  agent                                                                          Results                                                                             Bubble volume (ml)                                                                            260 230                                                                               300 300                                                                               300                                               Lathering rate Δ                                                                            Δ                                                                           ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                  Creaminess of bubbles                                                                         x   x  ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                  Retention of bubbles (%)                                                                       68  63                                                                                99  98                                                                                97                                               Touch of bubbles                                                                              Δ                                                                            Δ                                                                           ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                  Jarring feeling (hands)                                                                       ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  x   x  x                                                 Jarring feeling (hair)                                                                        ⊚                                                                   ◯                                                                     x   x  x                                                 Sliminess      x   x  ◯                                                                      ◯                                                                     ◯                                     Refreshed feeling                                                                             x   x  ⊚                                                                   ⊚                                                                  ⊚                                  Smells         ◯                                                                      ◯                                                                     x   x  x                                            __________________________________________________________________________

Inventive Examples 22 and 23 and Comparative Example 19

In order to examine the effects of pH on the detergent composition of the present invention, detergent compositions of the compositions shown in Table 5 were prepared and their bubble volumes and used feelings were evaluated. The pH value of each detergent composition was adjusted with potassium hydroxide or citric acid.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                                       Comparative                                                                             Inventive                                                             Example  Examples                                                              19       22       23                                             ______________________________________                                         Potassium lauroyl glycinate                                                                    25         25       25                                         Potassium laurate                                                                              1.5        1.5      1.5                                        Water           balance    balance  balance                                    pH              5.5        6.5      9.0                                        Bubble volume (ml)                                                                             180        280      320                                        Stiffness       x          ◯                                                                           ◯                              Retention of bubbles                                                                           x          ◯                                                                           ◯                              ______________________________________                                    

Used feelings, namely stiffness and bubble retention when the side of the forearm was washed with a nylon towel using each of the above compositions, were evaluated based on the following criteria by 20 expert panelists consisting of 10 females and 10 males.

Stiffness ⊚: completely no stiffness, ◯: no stiffness, Δ: usual, and ×: stiffen.

Bubble retention ⊚: very good, ◯: good, Δ: usual, and ×: not enough.

Inventive Examples 24 to 26

In order to examine the effects of the addition of polyhydric alcohols to the detergent composition of the present invention, detergent compositions of the compositions shown in Table 6 were prepared and their bubble volumes and used feelings were evaluated.

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                                       Inventive Examples                                                             24      25       26                                              ______________________________________                                         Potassium lauroyl glycinate                                                                    25        25       25                                          Potassium laurate                                                                              1.5       1.5      1.5                                         Glycerol        5         25       5                                           Propylene glycol                   10                                          1,3-Butylene glycol                5                                           Water           balance   balance  balance                                     pH              8.2       8.2      8.2                                         Bubble volume (ml)                                                                             310       305      305                                         Stiffness       ⊚                                                                         ⊚                                                                        ⊚                            Retention of bubbles                                                                           ◯                                                                            ◯                                                                           ◯                               ______________________________________                                    

Inventive Examples 27 to 31

In order to examine the effects of N-acyl amino acid salts on the detergent composition of the present invention, detergent compositions of the compositions shown in Table 7 were prepared and their bubble volumes and used feelings were evaluated. The pH value of each of the detergent compositions was adjusted with 25% aqueous solutions of the respective bases mixed at the mixing ratios shown in the table.

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                         Inventive Examples                                                             27           28       29       30     31                                       ______________________________________                                         Lauroyl 25       25       25     25     25                                     glycine                                                                        Lauric acid                                                                            1.5      1.5      1.5    1.5    1.5                                    Base                                                                           KOH     90       10              10     90                                     NaOH    10       90       25                                                   TEA                       75     90     10                                     Glycerol                         5      10                                     Propylene                               10                                     glycol                                                                         1,3-                             2                                             Butylene                                                                       glycol                                                                         Water   balance  balance  balance                                                                               balance                                                                               balance                                pH      8.5      7.8      7.1    6.8    8.0                                    Bubble  315      310      300    305    310                                    volume                                                                         (ml)                                                                           Stiffness                                                                              ◯                                                                           ◯                                                                           ◯                                                                         ⊚                                                                      ⊚                       Bubble  ⊚                                                                        ⊚                                                                        ⊚                                                                      ⊚                                                                      ⊚                       retention                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

Inventive Example 32

Detergent compositions shown in the following Tables 8 to 16 were prepared in the usual way based on various formulations of materials shown in the tables.

                  TABLE 8                                                          ______________________________________                                         Body shampoo                                                                   ______________________________________                                         N-Coconut oil fatty acid acyl glycine potassium salt                                                        20 g                                              Coconut oil fatty acid sodium salt                                                                          2                                                 Coconut oil fatty acid diethanolamide                                                                       5                                                 Cetanol                      1                                                 Sodium chloride              2                                                 Methylparaben                0.2                                               Sodium benzoate              0.2                                               Sodium citrate               0.5                                               Purified water              balance                                            Total                       100 g                                              pH 8.2                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 9                                                          ______________________________________                                         Cleansing foam                                                                 ______________________________________                                         N-Coconut oil fatty acid acyl DL-alanine sodium salt                                                        20 g                                              Potassium myristate          2                                                 Propylene glycol             4                                                 Cetostearyl alcohol          3                                                 Coconut oil fatty acid diethanolamide                                                                       6                                                 Sodium chloride              2                                                 Sodium sulfate               4                                                 Methylparaben                0.2                                               Sodium benzoate              0.2                                               Sodium citrate               0.5                                               Purified water              balance                                            Total                       100 g                                              pH 8.7                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 10                                                         ______________________________________                                         Hair shampoo                                                                   ______________________________________                                         Lauroyl glycine sodium salt                                                                               5 g                                                 Sodium laurate             0.4                                                 Sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl sulfate                                                                     6                                                   1,3-Butylene glycol        4                                                   Coconut oil fatty acid diethanolamide                                                                     7                                                   Sodium chloride            2                                                   Sodium edetate             0.1                                                 Purified water            balance                                              Total                     100 g                                                pH 7.5                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 11                                                         ______________________________________                                         Hair shampoo                                                                   ______________________________________                                         Lauryl dimethylaminoacetic acid betaine                                                                   10 g                                                Myristoyl glycine TEA      10                                                  Myristoyl glycine lysine   7                                                   Palmitic acid TEA          0.7                                                 Glycerol                   2.5                                                 1,3-Butylene glycol        2                                                   Coconut oil fatty acid diethanolamide                                                                     7                                                   Sodium chloride            2                                                   Sodium edetate             0.1                                                 Purified water            balance                                              Total                     100 g                                                pH 7.2                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 12                                                         ______________________________________                                         Hair shampoo                                                                   ______________________________________                                         Coconut oil fatty acid amidopropyl dimethylamino                                                           10 g                                               acetic acid betaine                                                            Palm kernel oil fatty acid glycine TEA                                                                     5                                                  Stearic acid lysine salt    0.2                                                Lauric acid diethanolamide  4                                                  Myristyl alcohol            1                                                  Sodium chloride             2                                                  1-Menthol                   0.1                                                Purified water             balance                                             Total                      100 g                                               pH 7.4                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 13                                                         ______________________________________                                         Hair shampoo                                                                   ______________________________________                                         Lauryl dimethylamino-2-hydroxypropyl sulfobetaine                                                           12 g                                              Myristoyl-β-alanine TEA                                                                                6                                                 Myristic acid lysine salt    0.1                                               Glycerol                     5                                                 Lauric acid diethanolamide   4                                                 Sodium chloride              2                                                 Herb extract                 0.1                                               Purified water              balance                                            Total                       100 g                                              pH 7.0                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 14                                                         ______________________________________                                         Syndet bar                                                                     ______________________________________                                         Coconut oil isethionic acid sodium salt                                                                     60 g                                              N-Palm kernel oil fatty acid acyl β-alanine                                                            25 g                                              potassium salt                                                                 Coconut oil fatty acid lysine salt                                                                          2                                                 Isoprene glycol              5                                                 Lauryl glycoside             4                                                 Cationized cellulose         0.2                                               Trimethylaminoacetic acid betaine                                                                           2                                                 Sodium sulfite               0.05                                              Sodium thiosulfate           0.1                                               1-Hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid Na salt                                                           0.1                                               Purified water              balance                                            Total                       100 g                                              pH 7.9                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 15                                                         ______________________________________                                         Cleansing liquid                                                               ______________________________________                                         Palm kernel oil fatty acid glycine lysine salt                                                            15 g                                                Palm kernel oil fatty acid                                                                                1                                                   Sodium laurylsulfate       5                                                   Trehalose                  5                                                   Sodium polyacrylate        2                                                   PCA soda                   0.1                                                 Purified water            balance                                              Total                     100 g                                                pH 7.2                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 16                                                         ______________________________________                                         Aerosol detergent                                                              ______________________________________                                         Coconut oil glycine arginine salt                                                                        20 g                                                 Coconut oil fatty acid arginine salt                                                                     1.5                                                  Lauric acid TEA           0.5                                                  Glycerol                  4.5                                                  Sodium polyglutamate      0.1                                                  Coconut oil fatty acid ethanolamide                                                                      3                                                    Sodium chloride           2                                                    Butylparaben              0.2                                                  Sodium benzoate           0.2                                                  Sodium citrate            0.5                                                  Propellant                10                                                   Purified water           balance                                               Total                    100 g                                                 pH 7.6                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

Industrial Applicability

The considerable improvement of the properties of N-acyl amino acid salts as detergents thus achieved by the present invention has rendered possible easy provision of excellent detergent compositions. 

We claim:
 1. A detergent composition which comprises Component (A) an N-acyl amino acid salt of an amino acid selected from glycine, alanine and β-alanine where the acyl group is a fatty acid residue having 8 to 20 carbon atoms and Component (B) a higher fatty acid salt having 8 to 20 carbon atoms at a Component (A)/Component (B) weight ratio of 99.5/0.5 to 90/10.
 2. The detergent composition of claim 1 which comprises, in addition to said Components (A) and (B), further a higher alcohol having 8 to 24 carbon atoms in an amount of from 0.5 to 20% by weight based on the total amount of the Components (A) and (B).
 3. The detergent composition of claim 1 which has a pH value of from 6.5 to
 9. 4. The detergent composition of claim 1 which comprises further a polyhydric alcohol.
 5. The detergent composition of claim 1 which said N-acyl amino acid salt is a combination of at least two salts selected from the group consisting of the sodium, potassium, triethanolamine, diethanolamine, monoethanolamine, lysine, ornithine and arginine salts.
 6. The detergent composition of claim 1 which comprises one or more surface active agents selected from anionic (excluding the Component (A) N-acyl amino acid salts), nonionic and amphoteric surface active agents. 